October 25, 2008

Snickering All the Way

Kerri vblogged about Halloweencandy, mostly snickers bars. It was like she has some kind of a Snickers obsession. Almost as if she was scared for life by having Snicker withheld from her in her formative years.

At the risk of further damaging my good reputation (I know you’re thinking “What reputation?” As if I could say anything else to make myself out to be more of a total boob.) I want to talk about Halloween candy.

Candy didn’t cause our kids to be type 1.

Candy isn’t going away because they are.

I needed to learn this but it is a lesson I learned early. I didn’t know much about diabetes; OK I didn’t know jack squat about type 1 diabetes before Connor was diagnosed other than there were some parents who had to give there kids shots every day and I thanked god I wasn’t one of them.

I hated needles. I still do.

I know a lot more now than I did then. Mostly I know not to spell out my fears for Murphy’s Law by being thankful for not having needles in my life. It is a sure fire ticket to Needleville.

Before he was released from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia I learned the lesson that candy didn’t cause Connor diabetes and his having it wouldn’t make candy go away. They were very clear - Kids with diabetes are kids and so are entitled to the joys of being a kid.

Candy on holidays is part of being a kid.

Candy based holidays are important and among the many things CHOP taught us were these two: He is trick or treating. He is eating his candy (as part of his scheduled carb intake.) They released him a day early on the morning of Halloween with solemn and serious instructions to trick or treat that night.

So I am here to say don't let your kid grow up and become some kind of a scared by Snickers bar Halloween freak like some vbloggers I know. Let them eat cake! Or in this case the candy! For Kerri I recommend the both in the form of a Crumbs' Snickers cupcake.

Be a kid with diabetes.

Kid first, diabetes second - deal with the diabetes so they can be kids.

2 comments
:

I agree. I don't think we should go wild, but kids (and teens.....and adults) with diabetes need a little treat now and then. And even of there is this big BG spike after, or our numbers go out of whack for a bit, it's worth knowing I have a normal life just like the next kid.

I love a good Snicker's bar. But remember, Bennet - my mother did not know another soul with diabetes when I was diagnosed. Twenty-two years ago, it was all NPH and Regular and lectures from the Joslin Clinic about food exchanges and HOLY CRAP DO NOT GET HIGH BLOOD SUGAR EVER BECAUSE THAT CAUSES COMPLICATIONS which made my poor mom just about lose her mind. ;)

Believe me, I ate candy. I eat candy. I don't make a habit of rolling around in guilt. (The computer FixIt guy at work actually calls me "Snick" as my nickname - for Snickers. Sick, I know.) And I firmly believe that kids are kids - diabetes comes second.